A rare breed of hybrid super pigs from Canada has begun to make its way into the northern United States. The pigs endanger native species and may be difficult to eliminate. Unfortunately, their expansion has only accelerated in recent years.
Hyper Breed of Super Piigs Are Hard To Eliminate
The hybrid breed of super pigs is a cross between a domestic pig and a wild boar and now is causing havoc in Canada. These invasive species have set their eyes on the United States as they move down to Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan.
Initially crossbred to assist farmed pigs grow larger and endure Canada's frigid conditions, a decline in the market around two decades ago caused some farmers to release their hybrid pigs. According to Field and Stream, they are now running wild.
Unfortunately, the super pigs are difficult to exterminate. The University of Saskatchewan's Canadian Wild Pig Research Project director Ryan Brook told Field and Stream that one of the shocks of this issue is that super pigs can thrive in frigid temperatures.
Moreover, wild pigs eat anything. As Popular Mechanics reports, these super pigs consume massive amounts of goslings and ducklings and can even take down an adult whitetail deer in spring.
But this also shows that these super pigs are jeopardizing whitetail deer, elk, and, most importantly, waterfowl populations, as well as disrupting crop destruction. The disadvantages exceed any advantages feral pigs may have as a huntable animal.
The super pigs have already crossed the international border, making it as far north as North Dakota. As their population expands, experts anticipate them to become more common. Due to that, they encourage people to report incidents on the website Squeal on Pigs.
These invasive species have proven proficient at fighting off recreational hunters with whole sounders becoming nocturnal to escape the shooting. At times, the sounders will scatter, making it difficult to identify them, or they will modify their habits and flee to woods or marshes.
Although, the Judas Pig idea, which ties a GPS collar onto a pig to lead game officials to additional pigs, has proven to be the most effective technique for containing the super pigs.
READ ALSO: First Domesticated Hybrid Animal Are Super-Strength Donkeys That Are Faster, Stronger Than Horses
Two Reasons Why Super Pigs Are Dangerous
Brook explained that there are two reasons why these super pigs are dangerous. First, they do not have natural predators since there are also no native pigs in Canada. Yahoo! News reported that anything that sounds like a pig and oinks like one has been imported, like the European wild boars that were imported in the 1980s to diversify the country's agriculture.
He added that these boars could sometimes escape their fences to the wild. More so, these pigs started to lose their use sometime after 2001 which is why some farmers had to let them go.
Initially, they thought the super pigs will not survive the Canadian winter but it was quickly proven incorrect. This is due to their unique set of circumstances. Super pigs are a cross of wild boar and domestic pigs to make them bigger and longer.
Also, "Bergmann's rule" has come into play that made super pigs an invasive species. The rule states that specimens tend to be larger the farther north their range because it is important for their survival. In other words, the size and intelligence of super pigs have allowed them to survive in harsh conditions and that makes them difficult to eliminate.
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